The Desperate Datin

Michelle is a friend of mine from Penang who does funny stage performances and emcee'ing. This latest one during one of his her friend's wedding and is particularly funneh XD

You'd have to know some Hokkien to catch some of the jokes though.



He's She's such a natural XD

You can check out more of her videos in her YouTube channel.

Gangnam Style

Psy's Gangnam Style has truly become an international phenomenon, taking the world by storm and becoming a household name for people from all corners of the world and every age group. Heck, you'll have a harder time trying to find someone who DOESN'T know about Gangnam Style.

Extremely catchy song (in fact, it's hard NOT to move to this song), amusing yet catchy choreography and an awesome music video. What's not to LOVE about this song?

Gangnam Style is part of his 6th album PSY's Best 6th Part 1 and the choreography was highlighted in international news and became a viral hit. On August 2, Psy was shown on CNN for the first time in the USA. On August 14, Gangnam Style ranked first on YouTube's 'Most Viewed Videos' monthly chart and it has received almost 500 million views on YouTube to date.

On August 21, Gangnam Style officially charted #1 on the iTunes Music Video Charts, overtaking Justin Bieber's As Long as You Love Me and Katy Perry's Wide Awake. This feat is the first for any South Korean artist. In September, he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and taught the dance to Britney Spears, and appeared on The Today Show on NBC in New York City, performing the song live and teaching dance moves to the anchors. He also made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live during a skit featuring Gangnam Style. The Gangnam district even awarded Psy with a plaque and named him an honorary ambassador. Recently, Psy was signed by Scooter Braun to Braun's Schoolboy Records, a label distributed by Universal Republic.

Since Gangnam Style came out, there have been countless flash mobs worldwide, dance classes and even professional dancers adopting the routine.

And of course, let's not forget the numerous parodies as well.

Check out Psy's most recent concert in Seoul Plaza.

You know you're freakin' kickass when the crowd literally explodes when the song starts, sings and dances along with you every step of the way. Seriously, who can even top him right now? NO ONE, that's who!

I love Gangnam Style!~

We Can Only Hope

After watching this, I have nothing but RESPECT for Obama for everything that he has done in the pursuit of equality, for his country and future generations.

I realize that it may not be my nation that is changing. Nevertheless, it touches me that another has moved many steps forward towards freedom and equality. Every action in the right direction, will ripple out and affect us all, in due time.

I can only hope, that even though it might not be within my generation, that generations to come will one day savor the same privilege as well, in our own beloved country.

You've Gotta Get Up And...

I've only recently heard this song. I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it. Pink's songs have always spoken truth, wisdom, tenacity and strength. This one is no different. A truly lovely, meaningful and inspiring song. I just adore the melody as well.

Ever wonder about what he's doing
How it all turned to lies
Sometimes I think that it's better to never ask why

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try

Eh, eh, eh

Funny how the heart can be deceiving
More than just a couple times
Why do we fall in love so easy
Even when it's not right

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try

Ever worried that it might be ruined
And does it make you wanna cry?
When you're out there doing what you're doing
Are you just getting by?
Tell me are you just getting by by by

Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try

You gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try

PS: Go watch the official MTV here. It's just beautiful. Also there's a really hot guy dancing with Pink throughout the video.

Could it be a Sign?

I'm pretty sure that mom is still in denial till this day. Although I came out to her 3 times, she hasn't readily acknowledged who I am. However, a couple of things happened recently, although briefly, that made me think if she has in fact silently acknowledged, but not ready to fully accept.

This was last week. As usual, I was into my gaming mode after work:

Mom: Is this what you're gonna do the rest of your life?

Me: I'm just relaxing after work. Would you rather have me go out or be a home and save some money? Also, I haven't been feeling very well lately. Not since the previous event. I had a flu and cough, and got caught in the rain

Mom: Why didn't you bring your umbrella with you?

Me: I left it in the car in the multi-storey carpark. I didn't feel like walking all the way there just to get the umbrella.

Mom: Then what about the raincoat that was given to you for the event, in case it rained.

Me: I actually didn't think to wear it.

Mom: Aiyo, how can you be so careless? Learn to take care of yourself better. If you had a girlfriend, you would take better care of yourself, for her sake. You would be more savvy. Or at least, she would take care of you.

Me (getting annoyed): Why must I need a girlfriend so that I can be savvy, or take care of myself better?

Mom: Then, what about a boyfriend?

Me (surprised): Ermmm, I don't have any lah!

Yes, I caught totally off-guard by that one.

This one was just last Monday, at a neighbour's wedding dinner:

Random neighbour at our table: So, when is ah boy's turn? *looking at me*

Mom: *looks at me* I don't know, you ask him lah. Not yet lah.

Me: *just smiles awkwardly at neighbour*

Mom: *turns to me again and smiles* You really don't wanna get married one day?

Me: Don't worry mom. Sis and I will take care of each other, even if I'm not married. But, she has to get married because she really needs someone to take care of her.

Preceding the above conversation, the neighbour and mum were talking about how important it is to have a family so that they could take care of you when you're old. I have to admit that there is truth in what she's saying, especially if you should encounter any illnesses or mishaps in old age.

I believe that for every parent, one of the biggest reasons they would want their children to get married is so that they will be taken care of, long after parents are gone. I understand that, and think that perhaps, she just wants me to be looked after. She might not agree with my sexuality and could have forgone her dream of seeing me raise my own family, but I have an inkling that she wants me to be with someone, no matter who it is, so that I will have companionship and my well-being attended to. Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger. And I have been thinking about it as well. Perhaps I will adopt one day? Who knows? Do they even allow single parent adoption? I have no idea.

Those brief conversations with mom got me thinking. Could this be a sign that she's beginning to accept who I am? It is still kinda vague. I just hope that one day, I will be able to sit down with her and discuss my life freely, instead of filtering and keeping secrets. This, sincerely, I pray.

The Good and Bad

Holy poop on a stick!~ I mentioned a revival in June, then went *poof* for 3 months from the blogosphere. Oh well, but I'm back...for now at least. Quite a few things has happened these few months, both good and bad.

For starters, I've said goodbye to my previous job and shifted to a new one in September. It was a rather heavy-hearted farewell. Although my previous company had a work process so tedious, that just thinking about the tasks ahead felt draining, I had some great colleagues back there. The teamwork and synergy of my own team felt awesome and amicable. The people I worked with were pleasant and we did feel very much like a family. I was also very well liked, within and outside my organization. Still, I had to make a move to better pastures, and I'm forever grateful of the things I've learned there. In fact, it helped me secure this new job. Working at a huge semi-con company here in Penang now *hint hint*.

Very recently, after going and off again, I'm finally single. This time, I don't intend to go back. I have to be firm. We had a great one, but as time went on, our age gap became more apparent (at least, to me). He has matured a great deal in these past 2 years, yet I've felt that there was something missing. I felt unfulfilled, and then I realized that I loved him no longer as a partner, but more of a dear close friend. It wasn't good when the relationship felt more like an obligation to me. I tried very hard to love him back when we got back together the last time, and all was well. As time went by, it began to diminish again. It just felt stagnant. At times, I felt frustrated and trapped. I felt like I wasn't getting my end of the bargain. It wasn't about him. In fact, any person would be lucky to have him.

It's just that our expectations were different. I am at a different phase of my life when I strive to achieve and be something more. Early mid-life crisis perhaps? Maybe. I used to only be concerned on finding a partner. But that's when I was in my 20s. Now that I'm in my early 30s, it's a whole different ballgame. If I were to find another relationship, it would be with someone more matured (mentally and emotionally). But for now, I'm content on being single. I don't know what the future holds for the both of us, but I really hope I don't lose him. I still care for him deeply and I'm very protective of him. And I can't stand the sight of him crying, it just breaks my heart. Right now, we're not in contact, except for some messages in Whatsapp. He needs the time by himself to grief and move on, and I hope time heals his wounds quicker, so that we may see each other again. This time, as good friends.

Tasty Discoveries @ Sakae Sushi

This week, I was given the privilege to attend a event to sample some of Sakae Sushi's newest creations. By now, everyone should already be familiar with the friendly green frog from the outlet that offers scrumptious Japanese cuisine. Come on, isn't he just adorable?

Sakae offers a wide range of items on the menu that leaves you spoiled for choice, ranging from teppanyaki, yakimono, agemono, tempura, nabemono, Japanese noodles and donburi. While offering tasty Japanese delights at reasonable prices, Sakae is constantly innovative in creating new ways to offer customers the best value in terms of variety, food quality and dining experience.

The first dish to arrive was the Kaisen Salad (RM16.90), which looked both vibrant and appetizing. Top of the salad consisted of prawns, tuna flakes, snow crab leg and is strewn with shrimp roe. All this was sitting on a bed crunchy, raw cabbage and surrounded by lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, blanched broccoli and seaweed. It came with a side of creamy goma (sesame) dressing. The prawns and crab tasted fresh, while the shrimp roe added a hint of saltiness that was just right. The dressing with really delicious and nutty, and really made the dish. I found myself wanting more in the end, as there were more salad than dressing, even after we mixed it through. The salad overall had great texture, with the crunchy assorted vegetables and the soft seafood.

Next up, came the Kaisen Pirikara Nabe (RM 24.90). It was an abundant and appetizing seafood hotpot that comprised of prawns, squid, salmon, Japanese fish-cake, scallop, assorted vegetables (napa cabbage, shiitake mushroom, hon-shimeji mushrooms, leeks and sliced onions) and some glass noodles in a kimchee soup. The seafood was fresh and not overcooked. The soup was flavorful, but the spiciness was definitely milder than Korean version. However, I felt that it lacked just a slight bit of saltiness, which would really add a bit more depth to the flavor of the soup and bring out a tad more savoriness. I added a small amount of shoyu and it was perfect.

After that, it was time for some new sushi dishes. First up was the Ebi Crepe (RM5.99). A luscious roll with whole-cooked prawn, crab stick, lettuce and egg mayonnaise wrapped in a light crepe layer. Taste-wise, it was just alright for me. It could use a bit more texture, as each bite was a bit too soft. Perhaps adding cucumber would be good, just for some crunch.

The Sakae Blossom (RM9.99) was just gorgeous and just as lovely to eat. It was an intricately-designed roll with very lightly grilled salmon as the blossom, with sides covered in shrimp roe and finished with small dollop of mayonnaise on top. It was easily one of my favorite sushi of the night. But then, I love anything with lots of shrimp or salmon roe =)

The Soft Shell Crab Maki (RM 5.99) was scrumptious. The combination of soft shell crab, sweet beancurd and spicy mayonnaise really made each bite sing. Also, I love anything with crispy soft shell crab, but who doesn't? =P

The Inari Avocado Ebi (RM7.99) was pretty good as well. The salad dressing, avocado and sweet beancurd skin combination was tasty but it wasn't as memorable for me.

Another favorite for me was the Hana Maki (RM9.99). It was a beautifully crafted flower rolls with delicate, fresh, raw salmon petals wrapping a sushi rice centre and topped generously with mayonnaise and shrimp roe. The richness of the salmon and mayo made each bite melt in my mouth.

The Hotate Mentaiyaki (RM20.90), which is succulent half-shell scallops grilled with cod fish roe, tasted both creamy and fresh. The scallops were still soft and slightly briny and cod fish roe tasted almost like mayo. I'm not sure if any mayo was added to the topping.

I've always loved the Genmaicha (brown rice tea, which is green tea combined with roasted brown rice) that is served in Sakae. The roasted brown rice really gives it a pronounced, toasty and delicious flavor.

The last item was the Curry Udon (RM12.90), which came with Japanese fishcake slices, chicken, cubed carrots and potatoes. The texture of the curry is not as thick but taste-wise, it didn't disappoint. We were all stuffed by then but still managed to scoff it down.

After all the fantastic food, we were ushered outside for a group photo with none other than the plump green frog. It was flattering as some of the marketing crew, along the with the frog, came all the way from KL for this event!~

Yes, I look like I'm still hungry, as I tried to steal a bite on the froggie XD

A big shout-out to Emily, as it was her birthday that day!~ And she met her prince too...in frog form. Not yet kiss mah, so haven't transformed yet.

When we got back in, we were surprised with dessert and presented with 4 flavors of their ice-cream. From the top: Dragon fruit, passion fruit, black sesame and green tea. My favorite were the dragon fruit and passion fruit ones, albeit it digressed from the usual Japanese flavors. I loved the refreshing, bright and clean taste of both =)

Each of us got a goodie bag, with a little green froggie inside too!~

A big thanks to Sakae Sushi for gracefully hosting us and making sure we had a great time that night. Also, thanks to my buddy Criz and our helpful organizers from Foodsion for making this happen =)